Playfully Quirky Cabins Are Tiny Homes with Big Personalities

Fourth generation wood-working artisan Dan Pauly transforms reclaimed wood into diminutive cabins that look like they’re straight out of a fairy tale. Whether it’s a sauna, outhouse, shed, or actual home, the craftsman is able to create structures that are reminiscent of a Tim Burton film—offering a quirky balance of gothic culture and playfulness.

When the creator’s visually eccentric designs are brought to life, one feels as though they’ve entered a different universe. In this world, a magical aura surrounds Pauly’s unique work and allows viewers to see that there can be a playful side to architecture.

As it turns out, there’s even a significant history behind these whimsical designs. Pauly’s great-grandfather emigrated from Switzerland to the U.S. in the 1800s and began the artisanal craft of barn building. Since then, the Pauly family has continued this impressive trade, making it part of their legacy for close to two centuries.

“As I uncover an old barn or shed,” Pauly explains on his website, “I realize that it could be the same lumber that my great-grandfather used more than 100 years ago. I think that respect for the craftsmen and craftswomen of the past, and for the wood they used, make a difference in each new piece I create. Until you have dismantled an old barn, you can’t imagine the painstaking effort it took from Old-World craftsmen to erect it. They were each a work of art.”